Web roll feeding mechanism



D. G. BERNARD WEB ROLL FEEDING 'MECHANISM Oct. 28, 1941.

Filed April 21, 1939 4'Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 28, 1941. D. G. BERNARD 2,261,014

WEB ROLL FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 21, 1939 4Sheets-Shet 2 l 1| I I I I I I I BY I Z 'ATTORNEYS' Oct. 28, 1941. B R D 2,261,014

WEB ROLL FEEDING MECHANISM Filed April 21, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IQM - BY Q a Z j TORNEYS a INVEN EUR Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEB ROLL FEEDING IVIEC'HANISM David G. Bernard, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 21, 1939, Serial No. 269,137

, 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-68) The invention relates to new and useful imments in the means for rotatively holding and controlling the individual rolls of newsprint as the web is drawn into and run through the printing couples.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by prac tice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 22 of Fig. 1, partly in section and partly in full elevation, lookingfrom the left;

.Fig. 3 is a full, fragmentary detail elevation of the right-hand end of Fig. 2, or looking at Fig. 2, or looking at Fig. 4 from the left;

Fig. 4 is a full section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detached detail view on a smaller scale, of the annular plate cooperating to advance or retract the roll-holding chuck;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central section through the roll-engaging spindle;

Fig. 7 is a central section through a modified form of the spindle; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail of a different form of handle for the turning gear.

An object of the invention is to provide novel and useful supporting and handling means for news printrolls preparatory to and while running the web through the press, which may be embodied in various forms and types of printing press web feeding mechanisms, but which are especially capacitated for use with, and present many advantages with fast rotary printing presses wherein supporting means .for a plurality of paper rolls (usually three rolls) are mounted rotatively on pairs of spider arms about acornmon axis. The invention is directed to providing novel and useful spindle mountings for news print web rolls which are of unusually simple, sturdy and compact construction, having relatively few parts, economical to manufacture and easy to assemble, and having simple actuating means, while concurrently providing for variations in the length of rolls or of the mandrel tubes on which the rolls are wound, and also providing nicely graduated pressure of the spindles on the ends of thev tube orfmandrel on which the paper roll is wound; to provide such a structure having very short axial length from the end of the Web roll to the back of the spider arm; to provide spindle actuating meansQsuch as a latch, which is readily accessible and which does not require any spaceaxially, and therefore permits a stronger spider arm construction; to provide single actuating means acting on the spindle mounting, to move it and the spindle quickly into and out of engagement with the roll, and adapted to take rolls varying somewhat in length, and by the same means and movement to provide the minute and exact movement'of the spindles to effect nice graduation and regulation of the pressure of the spindles on the ends of the tube on which the web roll' is wound.'

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of theinventio'n illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown applied to a web supply of the type where-, in three web roll holders are mounted on a spiderlike frame, "having three pairs of arms mounted on and 'extendingradially from a single shaft, which is rotatably mounted on a supporting frame. Each pair of arms is adapted to'rotatively support a web roll, and by rotation of the arms to successive stations a web roll is mounted in a pair. of arms to replace an exhausted roll, or the end of the web roll is spliced or pasted to a nearly depleted web running through the, press, or the web roll is supported in position to supply its web to the press. The web roll mounting, however, may be of other and various forms, as may be found suitable or as known to the art.

As shown (Fig. 1), a double frame I has a shaft 2 rotatively mounted therein, and fixed to the shaft near either end and adjacent to the supporting side frames l, are three pairs of equally spaced apart, radially-extending supports or arms 4, 5 and 6, and in the outer ends of the respective pairs of arms are the spindles and their positioning. devices for receiving and then rotatively supporting the web rolls w from one of which the web 20' is fedto a press. When this type of roll supportv is used, it may be supplied with suitable brake mechanisms, paster making mechanisms or other suitable or necessary appliances.

The invention comprises pairs of spindles adapted to engage in the ends of the core tube of a web roll and to support and to rotate with a Web roll as the web is run through the press, one of the spindles having axial movement for withdrawal and clearance from the end of the tube of an exhausted or depleted web roll to permit and facilitate its removal and the insertion of a full web roll, and by a like reverse movement to move in and engage the ends of the tube of the fresh web roll, and also by a further minute and exact axial movement of the spindles to effect just the desired pressure of the spindles on the web roll tube.

The invention further provides a device having these capacities which is very simple and sturdy in structure, easy to assemble, and which has simple actuating and positioning means capable of unusually minute and precise movement and positioning of the spindle. In the embodied form, one manually operable withdrawable and insertible roll supporting spindle is mounted on one of the arms of each pair, and its mounting and positioning mechanism comprise a cylinder I9 rotatably mounted in the outer end of one of the arms of each of the pairs 4, 5, 6. In the inner fiat end of the cylinder I6 is a cylindrical recess I I, within which fits the cylindrical body I2 of the roll-engaging spindle, and inwardly from the inner face of the member I2 projects the conoidal portion I3 of the spindle which is inserted into, and fits friction tight within the end of the tube 9 upon which the paper web roll to is wound. Integral with and projecting from the rear face of the spindle head I2 is a stud I4, mounted within an axial cylindrical aperture in the cylinder In. The spindle I2 is free to rotate relatively to the cylinder I0, and for this purpose, it has a ball bearing I5 mounted on the end I6 of stud I4. The spindle I2 and stud [4 are held against longitudinal movement relatively to the cylinder I0, and for this purpose a fiat, circular plate I! is located within a cylindrical recess I8 formed in the outer end of the cylinder II], the plate I! abutting on the outer end of the stud I4 with slight clearance and overlapping against the cylinder I6 and clamping stud I4 to cylinder II]. A cap screw I9 passes through an aperture in the plate I1, and is screw-threaded into the stud I4 clamping the plate against the end of the spindle and holding the spindle against longitudinal displacement, at the same time leaving it free to rotate relatively to the cylinder I0 and with the paper roll 10. In the embodied form, the cylinder I0 and the spindle supported thereby are moved axially in and out together so as to accommodate the device to paper rolls of different widths, and to supporting tubes of different lengths by mechanism which likewise acts also by additional minute and precise movement to regulate the amount of pressure of the spindles on the ends of the stud I4. This endwise movement of the cylinder I9 is effected by imparting thereto a certain amount of rotation, and for this purpose three spaced apart helical grooves 23, 24 and 25 are formed in the surface of the cylinder I 0. Projecting into these grooves are three stationary I into and fitting tightly within a cylindrical opening in the bearing member portion of the arm 6. The ring and flange are held in fixed position by means of screws 33 which pass through apertures 34 in the annular plate and are screw threaded into the support or arm 6.

The actuating means for the cylinder I6 is capacitated to impart quick movement of the spindle to and from the paper roll to engage and release a paper roll, and also to impart minute and accurate movement to the spindle to closely regulate the pressure of the spindles on the ends of the tube I4. As embodied, intermeshing gears are provided and means for minutely and accurately positioning the gears. Said embodied form comprises a ring 31 which encircles the cylinder I0, and is fixed against relative angular movement with respect to the cylinder by means of keys 38 let into recesses in the ring and projecting into keyways 39 formed longitudinally in the exterior of the cylinder I0. On its periphery the ring 31 has a helical gear 40. Meshing with and driving the gear 49 is a helical gear wheel 43, which is located in an interior recess in the bearing member 6, and is fixed on a shouldered shaft 44, the thinner part of which shaft is journaled in a bushing 45, fitting within apertures in the bearing member 6. Shaft 44 projects from the frame 6 at one end to take a handle. The helical gear is held to its shaft by a key 41.

Means are provided for imparting the minute and precise amounts of angular movement to the shaft 44, to effect correspondingly minute and accurate adjustment of the pressure of spindles on the ends of the roll tube 9. Said means are manually operable and the mechanism is mounted on the side of the spider arm, where it does not take up any axial space, and so renders possible a stronger spider in the same space, and at the same time, the actuating lever is handy and accessible. As embodied, the handle 5| is fixed on the end of shaft 44, and mounted on the handle is a spring latch mechanism 52,- having aspring pressed latch pin 53, the pin being adapted to pass into any one of a series of openings 54 spaced fairly closely together. With a mechanism of this type very accurate pressure regulation is obtained, and the latch handle is designed to terminate its primary and adjusting travel Within the radial planes of the spider arm 6. The handle 5| may be turned one or more complete turns to effect the main to and fro movement of the spindle, and the latch pin 53 and holes 54 may be used to closely regulate the pressure of .the spindles on the roll. Both the relatively large clearing movement for roll replacement and the exact press regulating movements are effected by the same mechanism. Suitable closure means are provided, and as shown a circularplate 56 abuts on the fiat end of the "cylinder I0 to close the opening I 8, and is fixed to the cylinder by screws 51, and has a central aperture 58 which may be used for lubrication or for adjusting the screw I9. Plate 56 also acts as a stop against pins 26, 21 and 28 to limit axial travel of sleeve I0 to the left, and the end of keyways 38 serve to limit the travel of cylinder ID to the right in Fig. 2. A housing plate 59' covers the opening in the support 6 within which is. the gear 43, and an outward extension 60 of the plate 59 fits into a recess 6| formed in the ring 32 and further serves to hold the ring against angular displacement. The plate 59 is held to the plane by screws 62. Only one roll engaging spindle of each pair of spider arms requiresthe longitudinal movement to engage and disengage the web roll. Accordingly, the opposite spindle l2 (at the left in Fig.2) is'rotatively mounted on its stud M, as in the opposite spindle, the cylindrical body 12 being mounted within the spider arm itself with little more than the conoidal tube engaging part l3 projecting from the arm. For constructional purposes, the spindle is mounted within a cylindrical block 61 which is set into a cylindrical opening in the end of the spider arm, the stud [4 being heldv to the block 61 by a screw bolt 68, and the block 61 being held to the spider arm by screw bolts 69. This construction is notably compact axially, with very short axial length from the end of the web roll to to the outside of the spider arm 6.

' In Fig. 7 a form of axially-movable roll-engaging spindle is shown, employing a live spindle and roller bearings. The rotatable, axially-movable cylinder is mounted in the spider arm, and is axially movable relatively to the arm by gearing, substantially as previously described. A web roll engaging spindle 10 has an integral cylindrical Shank or shaft H rotatably mounted in the double thrust roller bearings 12, the bearings being mounted in the cylindrical recess 13 formed in the cylinder I0. To hold the spindle against axial movement relatively to sleeve In, the inner roller bearing abuts on an annular shoulder 14, formed in the recess 13, a spacing ring 15 is interposed between the two bearings, and a retaining ring 16 abuts against both the outer end of the outer roller bearing and the flat face of the cylinder l0, and is held to the cylinder by screw bolts 11.

In Fig. 8 is shown another form of handle for turning and holding shaft 44 and the gearing. An arm 80 is fixed on the end of shaft 44, and screw-threaded into a boss 8| formed on arm 8! is a cylindrical handle member 82. Rotatively mounted on and encircling the member 82 is a cylindrical hand grip 83, which is held in place by a flange on the outer end of the member 82. The embodied detent means comprises a rod 85 reciprocably mounted in a central aperture in member 82, and having a thumb piece projecting from the end of the handle. A detent latch 81 is pivotally mounted at 88 on the arm 80, and its tail end engages with the inner end of actuating rod 85. Rod 85 is acted on by-a coil spring 89 which tends to hold the latch 81 in engagement with one of the detent teeth 90. With this construction it is possible to rotate the handle without rotating ones hand and the crank can be retracted without depressing the rod 85.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A mechanism for supporting and handling news print rolls including in combination supports for a news print roll at either end thereof, a cylinder mounted in and having longitudinal movement relatively to'one of said supports, a roll-engaging spindle rotatably mounted in said cylinder, and means for effecting longitudinal movement of the cylinder relatively to its support, said means comprising helical grooves formed in the outer surface of the cylinder, groove engaging means on the support extending into the'groove, a gear wheel for rotating said cylinder'and a drivingigear meshing with said gear wheel and rotatably mounted on said support.

2. A mechanism for supportingand handling news print rolls including in. combination supports for a news print roll at ither end thereof, a cylinder mounted in and having longitudinal movement relatively to one of said supports, a roll-engaging spindle mounted in said cylinder, and means for effecting longitudinal movement of the. cylinder relatively to its support, said means. comprising helical grooves formed in the outer surface of the cylinder, groove engaging means on the support extending into the groove, a gear wheel for rotating said cylinder and a driving gear meshing with the wheel and a shaft for the driving gear rotatably mounted in said support, an arm on said shaft and latch and detent means between said arm and support whereby the arm may be positioned in any one of a plurality of closely contiguous positions.

3. A mechanism for supporting and handling news print rolls including in combination supports for a'news print roll at either end thereof, a cylinder mounted in and having longitudinal movement relatively to one of said supports, a roll-engaging spindle rotatably mounted in said cylinder but held against longitudinal movement relatively to the cylinder, and means for effecting longitudinal movement of the cylinder relatively to its support, said means comprising helical grooves formed in the outer surface of the cylinder, groove engaging means on the support extending into the groove, a gear wheel fixed angularly relatively to said cylinder and a driving gear meshing with the gear wheel and rotatably mounted on said support.

4. A mechanism for supporting and handling news print rolls including in combination supports for a news print roll at either end thereof, a roll-engaging spindle, a bearing member in which said spindle is mounted, said bearing member being mounted on one of said supports and being rotatably and longitudinally movable relatively to the support, and means for moving said bearing member longitudinally relatively to its support, comprising a gear wheel held against axial movement in the support and fixed angularly relatively to said bearing member, but slidable relatively to the bearing member, to rotate it and a driving gear journaled on said support and meshing with said gear wheel.

5. A mechanism for supporting and handling news print rolls including in combination supports for a news print roll at either end thereof, a cylinder mounted and having longitudinal movement in one of said supports, said cylinder having an axial bore, a roll-engaging spindle rotatably mounted in said bore, means for holding the spindle against longitudinal movement relatively to the cylinder, means for effecting longitudinal movement of the cylinder relatively to its support, said means comprising helical grooves formed in the outer surface of the cylinder, a plurality of stationary fingers extending into the helical groove, a gear wheel encircling and fixed angularly relatively to said cylinder, a gear meshing with said gear wheel and a shaft for the gear, means for rotating said shaft and means for positioning and holding the shaft in any one of a plurality of contiguous positions.

6. A mechanism for supporting and handling news print rolls including in combination supports for a news print roll at either end thereof,

a cylinder rotatably mounted and having longi-' tudinal movement in one of said supports, said cylinder having an axial bore, a roll-engaging spindle rotatably mounted in said bore, means for holding the spindle against longitudinal movement relatively to the cylinder, means for effecting longitudinal movement of the cylinder relatively to its support, said means comprising a gearing and a shaft for rotating a member of the gearing, one gear of said gearing being held against axial movement and slidably mounted on the cylinder but angularly fixed relative thereto, means for rotating said shaft and means for positioning and holding the shaft in any one of a plurality of contiguous positions.

'7. A mechanism for supporting and handling news print rolls including in combination supports for a news print roll at either end thereof, a roll-engaging spindle mounted to have rotary and longitudinal movement relative to one of said supports, means for effecting and governing the longitudinal movement of a spindle, said means comprising intermeshing gear members and a shaft for rotating one of the gear members, one gear member being movable axially of said spindle but held against axial movement relative to said support, an arm fixed to said shaft and latch and detent means whereby the arm may be selectively positioned in any one of a plurality of closely contiguous positions.

8. A mechanism for supporting and handling news print rolls including in combination supports for a news print roll at either end thereof, a cylinder rotatably mounted and having longitudinal movement invone of said supports, said cylinder having an axial bore and a communicating cylindrical recess in the inner end of the sleeve, a roll-engaging spindle rotatably mounted in said recess and bore, means for holding the spindle against longitudinal movement relatively to the cylinder, means for efiecting longitudinal movement of the cylinder relatively to its support, said means comprising helical grooves formed in the outer surface of the cylinder, a flanged annular plate fixed to said support and fitting into a cylindrical recess in the outer face of said support, said flange encircling the outer end of the cylinder, a plurality of fingers fixedly mounted in said flange and extending inwardly into the helical grooves, a gear wheel encircling and fixed angularly relatively to said cylinder, a gear mounted in a recess within said support and meshing with the gear wheel, a shaft journaled in said support on which said second gear wheel is fixed, said shaft extending exteriorly to the support, an arm fixed to the end of said shaft, and latch and detent means whereby the arm may be selectively positioned in any one of a plurality of closely contiguous positions.

DAVID G. BERNARD. 

